Owning one program win against Booneville West Fork ends a streak of three straight weeks in which the Bearcats were looking to keep an unblemished record against their opponent.
West Fork’s lone win in the series came in 2008 in West Fork, the site of Friday’s game.
West Fork also comes into the game off of their first win of 2025, scoring on the final play of the game to win 32-28 in Cedarville, making the Tigers a winner for the first time under Sheldon McKenzie. McKenzie is also the fourth first school the Bearcats are facing this year with a first year head coach.
• Mascots: Booneville Bearcats; West Fork Tigers
• When: 7 PM, October 17, at Tiger Stadium in West Fork
• Series: Booneville leads 14-1-0 (.933)
• Streak: Booneville has won last 8
• Last Meeting: Booneville 41 West Fork 6 on October 18, 2024
• First Meeting: Booneville 35 West Fork 7 on November 22, 1985
• Conference Affiliations: Both are 3A-1
TODAY IN BEARCAT FOOTBALL HISTORY: The Bearcats are 10-5 all time in games documented to have been played on October 17. Kickoff return touchdowns are featured prominently on the date.
On October 17, 1986 Rusty McDonald returned kickoffs 91 and 85 yards for touchdowns and is the only Bearcat to have two kickoff return touchdowns in the same game, and the same quarter. McDonald also returned another kickoff to the Greenwood 45. The Bearcats topped Greenwood 22-15 that night with Frank Johnson hitting Clint Watson for 53 yards and a second quarter touchdown to make it 22-15 and neither team scored after that.
On October 17, 1980 Mike Fleming returned a kickoff 82 yards for a touchdown against Greenwood, and on October 17, 1997 Davin Hicks returned one 76 yards for a touchdown against Lamar.
In the first October 17 game, which was in 1924, the Bearcats beat Little Rock Central 18-15, though there was some discussion as to whether it was the varsity team or not that made the trip from the capitol city to Booneville.
FOUR QUARTERS: 1st quarter: Last week’s win was program win number 790. 2nd quarter: After a program record for penalties in week 5 (19-185), the Bearcats had only 3 for 35 yards in week 6. 3rd quarter: Booneville has never failed to score at least 40 points in a game with Greenland. 4th quarter: With 6 sacks and errant snaps, Greenland was held to a negative 34 yards rushing. Braxton Hubble now has 7 quarterback sacks this season.
THEME: The pep rally theme is USA.
BEARCATS FACING TEAM COMING OFF OF FIRST WIN
